NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
When I first started showing Darlington Ch show was held in a park in the middle of Darlington. Even when there was the petrol crisis in 2000, the show went on and the late Elisabeth Coleopy and I managed to get there by car sharing. Unfortunately, security caused a real problem, and the show moved to the grounds of Newby Hall, where it stayed for 8 years. The ground there however did not drain well, and the last time we went Debbie carried the dogs to the ring, which happened to be part of the BIS ring that year so it was dry, but the outside rings were very muddy, and one exhibitor was seen carry his Afghan round his shoulders. In 2013 the committee decided enough was enough and moved the show just 2-3miles down the road to Ripon Race Course. The site was flat and being a race course was well drained and is looked after all the year round. The in/out marquees with the benches behind the rings were also introduced, which I think most exhibitors prefer.
The show is now one of the 6 new all- breed Championship shows, giving CCs to all breeds that have them. The KC brought this in from the beginning of 2019 with the idea of increasing entries; it is for a 3 year trial period. Some breeds now have more CCs on offer, but in our case the set of CCs was moved from Driffield, who have taken the breed off, which is sad for those living in the North, although they do not rotate their days and we tended to be 1st in the ring on a Thursday.
Pastoral Day at Darlington was Saturday our judge was Mr Rony Doedjins from the Netherlands. He has judged all over the world and was the BIS judge at the winners show in Amsterdam in 2009, which is the biggest and oldest dog show in the Netherlands. He previously judged the breed here at Richmond 2014.
We have exhibitors spread all over the country, so I always say most have a Ch show local to them and one far away, and for us living just 10miles from Hyde Park corner, Darlington is definitely our far away one, only SKC being further. A number of exhibitors stayed overnight in the area, but as we were not scheduled to go in till noon after 4 breeds, we decide to drive up that morning, and with a dry sunny day and hardly any wind, it was happily a trouble free journey there and back.
Mr Doedjins found his BCC and BOB in Kirsty Ivine and son Callum’s, Kimura’s Vera With Tapui (Imp Nor) (Betty) she was handled by Jenny Shorer Wheeler but to say Kirsty was ecstatic is I think an understatement. Betty came to the UK as a puppy with her brother Kirmura Viking (Eric) in 2015, both qualified for Crufts where Betty was BP and Viking BDP. They are by Nor/Swe/Dk Ch Kimura Peer Gynt x Nor Ch Kimura Nelly. A few days after Crufts Eric travelled to Dr Crouch in Australia to be part of the foundation stock there. Betty stayed with Kirsty and is the great-granddaughter of Kristy’s Ch/Nor/ Swe Ch Tapui Tane, who was BOB at Crufts on three occasions and had 23CCs and many other awards. Betty has 1 RCC but has only been very lightly shown as Kristy has a two year old son. RBCC Lisa and Alex Strong’s Leggatts Dancing Queen at Draccus (Eris )by Frostisen Winsome x Knytshall Noor Ul Ain, this was her first RCC.BVB Sarah Stonton’s Trelowen Andrea AW(S) she has 3RCCS and has had an illustrious agility career but still knows how to put her best paw forward round the breed ring. She is by Ch Trelowen Conar Tun x Trelowen Kyoo. Sarah had a busy day as her Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack RL1Ex was DCC, he is on a winning roll this is his 7th CC, he also has 9 RCCs,he by Ch & Ir Ch Arnscroft Di To Be A Sailor Ir Jr Ch x Ch Arnscroft Di & Comply.
RDCC his first, my and daughter Debbie’s Rikarlo Gable by Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall x Betty he also has 1CC .BPD&BP Joanna Michalowska Trelowen Noel (Mojo)by Ir & Int Ch Zodiac’s Featuring Fredrik at Taevas of Minforst (Ir Jun Ch)(IMP US)(CW19) x Trelowen Glentorran, this was Joanna and Mojo’s first show and so first BP. Joanna’s husband had to go, so thanks to Nancy Kent for staying with Joanna & Mojo so they could do the puppy group, Nancy then took them home. BVD & BV Jenny and Isaac Shorer-Wheeler & Kirsty’s Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farah JW ShCM by Ch /Am Ch Visions Dino of Trollheimen(Imp USA) x Arnscroft Di Sing On Ice,he has 12CCs and 8 RCCS, he was handled as normal by 9yr old Isaac. Judging over it was picnic time at the benches. It was also lovely to see June and George Purves come to watch the judging, they of course were club secretary and chairman for many years.
The pastoral group as more usual than not was the third group, with the puppies and veterans being pre judged. There was no joy in any of the groups but is always great to have the breed represented in all of them.
In 2018 the KC brought in a Special Beginners class sponsored by the KC, if the show put on these classes it had to have a SB group with prize money of £40 £30 £20 &£10, the idea was to enable more exhibitors to experience group competitions. The criteria for entering was that with CC breeds, the owner, handler or exhibit must not have won a CC or RCC, with non CC breeds it was not to have won a Best of sex or Reserve Best of Sex at a Ch show. You will see earlier in my notes that Lisa Strong’s Eris won her first RCC. Eris was born on the first of August last year and is Lisa’s first show dog .When Eris was 6months Lisa started showing her with mixed success, as we all have when we first start showing, but a Birmingham National in her first SB group she was G4, and it went from there with them gaining many group places and of course experience, with it culminating in them winning the SB Group at Richmond.Now with the RCC it means that they can no longer do the classes and I know Lisa says she will miss them, but I am sure Eris having a stud book number and qualification for Crufts for life will make up for it. Many congratulations, the class and group for Lisa did exactly what is designed for, giving them great group experience.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
The views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK